The Global Shoe Drive

Almost every culture has the need for some form of charity or charitable act. Some of the most impact-full charity organizations are right here, in our United States of America. But what can we do on the small scale to make a difference? This has been a question that I have asked for a very long time.

Massai Baby in Tanzania, Africa

In the past 3 years, we’ve had the privilege of participating in some pretty wonderful projects with some really amazing people.  I’ve had the pleasure of working with local charities that make a difference in our own communities to educate, feed and clothe children who are not as fortunate as we are.

Recently, I met a patient who is from Honduras.  She lives locally and knows everyone in the community.  After our consultation and treatment, she referred her daughter to our offices.  They, like most of my patients, are very special people.  Maria works very hard to organize donations from around the community and sends a container of clothing, shoes, toys, and medical supplies to poor families in Honduras.  All the expenses of this project are paid by her.

Maria inspired me.  As Podiatrists, we care about feet, so I decided to start a shoe drive… but not just a regular shoe drive.  An organized ongoing event that recruits other doctors to also collect shoes in their offices for kids that often are barefoot, or make shoes from used plastic bottles.  Having traveled to numerous third world countries, I’ve seen first hand the conditions that some of these kids grow up in, and just like the late night infomercial asking for your donations… the images are grim.

Little Honduran Boy

I decided to make a locally effective shoe drive that utilizes the strong relationship between doctor and patient, and doesn’t require you to hope that your contribution actually gets to the source. A global, but “local-feeling” charity that bypasses all the bureaucracy and unnecessary costs of larger organizations.  This way we can act locally and impact globally.  Plus, what better forum than Podiatry to host a Global Shoe Drive?

So I would like to extend an invitation to you to donate old shoes that your children have outgrown, and we will send them to villages across the world where people don’t have access to all the good things we have here in America. I appreciate every contribution you have made and will make in the future.

Thank you for being part of a better future for our planet.

September 2009 — Special Thanks

I wanted to take a moment to thank some very special patients who have helped us reach our first shipment to Honduras.  We were able to send out first batch of shoes to Honduras for children in orphanages.  Thank you for your compassion and your dedication to helping others in need.

• Dr. Rehta Raja
• Lisa Tracey
• Katy Rodriguez
• Lupe Barboza
• The Water of Life Thanks Group
• Esther Scott
• and our staff member, Nelida

November 2009 — Special Thanks

I have always held the belief that people are intrinsically good, but I have been humbled by how many patients, community leaders and simply incredible human beings there are in our sphere.  Thank you for caring and taking the time to donate shoes, arrange community events and participate in something that directly impacts so many impoverished children.  Your generosity will never be forgotten.  At this point, we have donated over 1000 pairs of shoes.  Our hope is to get more doctors involved and have multi-center donation drop off locations… that dream is closer than we could imagine.

• Prof. Brenda Rothaupt – Thank you for time on your radio show to raise awareness about charitable practices
• Janine Johnson – Thank you for your consistent contributions and events to bring our donations beyond what we could imagine!